What is a swollen inguinal lymph node?

Inguinal lymph node lumps are a common physical disease in real life. They are caused by lesions around the lymph nodes. Having inguinal lymph node lumps will not only affect physical health, but will also easily cause pain or local hardening. It requires timely treatment. If not treated for a long time, it may lead to lymphoma.

Inguinal lymph node lumps

Inguinal lymph node enlargement is very common in clinical practice, and often indicates that there are lesions in the tissues and organs around the lymph nodes, namely lesions of the reproductive system and abdominal organs around the groin, and also systemic diseases.

Causes and common diseases

1. Chronic lymphadenitis

Most of them have obvious infection foci, and often localized lymph node enlargement, pain and tenderness. The diameter usually does not exceed 2 to 3 cm, and will shrink after anti-inflammatory treatment. Inguinal lymphadenopathy, especially long-standing, unchanged, flat lymphadenopathy, is usually of no significance.

2. Tuberculous lymphadenitis

In addition to swollen inguinal lymph nodes, tuberculous lymphadenitis also has symptoms such as fever, sweating, fatigue, and increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, which is more common in young and middle-aged people. It is often accompanied by pulmonary tuberculosis. The texture of the lymph nodes is uneven, some parts are lighter (caseous change), some parts are harder (fibrosis or calcification), and they are adhered to each other and the skin, so their mobility is poor. These patients have positive tuberculin tests and blood tuberculosis antibodies.

3. Malignant lymphoma

Malignant lymphoma can occur in any age group. The inguinal lymph nodes are often painless and progressively enlarged. They can range in size from soybeans to dates and are of medium hardness. Generally, there is no adhesion to the skin, and they do not fuse with each other in the early and middle stages, so they are movable. In the later stages, the lymph nodes may grow very large or fuse into large masses with a diameter of more than 20 cm, invading the skin and taking a long time to heal after rupturing. In addition, malignant lymphoma can invade the mediastinum, liver, spleen and other organs, including the lungs, digestive tract, bones, skin, breast, nervous system, etc. Diagnosis requires biopsy.

Differential Diagnosis

1. Nonspecific lymphadenitis

Swelling of lymph nodes in the corresponding drainage area caused by acute or chronic infection of local tissues is called nonspecific lymphadenitis. Generally, during acute inflammation, the swollen lymph nodes are painful and tender, with a smooth surface and strict localization. Sometimes a "red line" caused by lymphangitis can be seen running from the primary lesion to the locally swollen lymph nodes. The local skin may have inflammatory symptoms such as redness, swelling, heat and pain, often accompanied by fever and increased white blood cell count. Lymph nodes can often shrink after treatment. Chronic nonspecific lymphadenitis is often the result of chronic inflammation in the corresponding area. The swollen lymph nodes are of medium hardness and often do not show signs of acute inflammation such as local redness, swelling, heat and pain. Acute nonspecific lymphadenitis is characterized by the coexistence of local infection and lymphadenopathy in the corresponding area, such as inguinal lymphadenopathy caused by infection of the lower limbs and perineum. The most common site of chronic nonspecific lymphadenitis is the submandibular lymph nodes, which is more common in people with a past nasopharyngeal or oral infection. The second most common site of chronic nonspecific lymphadenitis is the submandibular lymph nodes, which is caused by chronic inflammation of the lower limbs and reproductive organs.

2. Specific infectious lymphadenopathy

(1) Lymph node tuberculosis is divided into primary and secondary types. Primary lymph node tuberculosis is when there are no other primary tuberculosis lesions. Secondary lymph node tuberculosis is when it appears after lesions in the chest, lungs, abdomen, or genitals. The most common site of lymph node tuberculosis is the cervical lymph node group. Most tuberculosis bacteria invade through tonsil caries to form primary lymph node tuberculosis, and a few are secondary to pulmonary or bronchial tuberculosis. Multiple lymph nodes on one or both sides of the neck swell in varying sizes. Initially, they are hard and painless. As the disease progresses, the lymph nodes adhere to the skin and fuse with each other, forming masses that are difficult to move. In the late stage, caseous necrosis and liquefaction form cold abscesses, which then rupture. Chronic ulcers leave scars after healing. More severe cases may have systemic tuberculosis toxic symptoms such as low fever, night sweats, and weight loss.